FAQs: Are bicycle helmets required in Cali?

Bicycle helmet requirements for California

Youth. California DMV VC Section 21212 states that people younger than age 18 are required to wear helmets when biking on “a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail.”

Youth, also be aware that even if a property doesn’t meet CA state law requirements about where minors must wear helmets, a property owner may still require that you wear a helmet.

Adults. Although California state law does not require adults to wear a bicycle helmet, check with your county’s bicycling advocacy leaders (e.g., California Bicycle Coalition’s local partners and allies) to learn about any possible city or county ordinances to the contrary.

All ages.Some properties, organizations, or events in California—public or private— may require helmets for adults as well as for youth. Here are just a few examples from Monterey County:

On other U.S. military properties, helmets are also typically required for all ages. Check with military officials regarding helmet requirements for a specific property. A 6/26/12 traffic safety memo issued by the Chief of Naval Operations states, “Bicycle operators riding on a Navy installation roadway shall ride…while properly wearing…a bicycle helmet approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission or Snell Memorial Foundation at all times. All active duty military personnel shall wear an approved bicycle helmet on and off a Navy installation. Commanders may determine helmet requirements for bicycle operators at industrial work sites.” (Source: https://my.nps.edu/documents/103425239/105582999/5100+12J+Traffic+Safety+Instructions.pdf/55deb7ba-cff3-4e64-b9dd-e63607fc881d.) Related resources from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association: https://helmets.org/milregs.htm and https://helmets.org/mil_regs.htm.)

Non-military federal properties have varying helmet requirements. What about at Fort Ord National Monument? Scroll down.

For youth, keep in mind California DMV VC Section 21212, which includes that people younger than age 18 are required to wear helmets when biking on “a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail.”